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Clay County

Arkansas · Public K-12

Clay County's public schools, 7 in all, serve approximately 2,244 K-12 students inside Arkansas, with Piggott School District the largest district by enrollment. By level, that breaks down as 3 elementary, 1 middle, and 3 high schools.

7-year change in Clay County

SY 2017-18 vs SY 2024-25
Total enrollment
2,244
-205 (-8%) vs SY 2017-18
School count
7
0 (0%) vs SY 2017-18
% White
94%
was 96%
% Hispanic
3%
was 3%
% Black
1%
was 1%
% Asian
0%
was 0%
Source: NCES Common Core of Data, enrollment-weighted demographic averages
Schools
7
3 districts
Enrollment
2,244
NCES CCD
Median income
$51,481
Below Arkansas avg
Free/reduced lunch
61.5%
Below Arkansas avg
Elementary
3
1,234 students
Middle
1
227 students
High
3
783 students
Combined / other
0
schools
LARGEST DISTRICT
PIGGOTT SCHOOL DISTRICT
814 students · 3 districts in Clay County

County vs. school enrollment demographics

Left bar is the racial makeup of Clay County residents (Census ACS 5-year). Right bar is the enrollment-weighted makeup of public schools in the county (NCES CCD). NCES systematically under-reports Hispanic, Pacific Islander, and Native American enrollment for many schools; where the resident share is meaningful but the reported school share is zero, we mark the school bar "not reported".

County residents
White
94%
Hispanic
1%
Black
0%
Asian
0%
Two or more
6%
Native American
0%
Pacific Islander
0%
School enrollment
White
94%
Hispanic
3%
Black
1%
Asian
0%
Two or more
1%
Native American
0%
Pacific Islander
0%
Bachelor's+
15.3%
adults 25+
Poverty rate
13.3%
ACS 5-year
Unemployment
6.3%
civilian labor
Median age
43
21.5% under 18

Test scores in Clay County

Latest 2023-24 ELA proficiency, 7 schools ranked. Arkansas state average: 33.9%.

See all 7 schools in Clay County ranked by score →

All schools (7)

LargestA-ZTop rated
NameCityLevelGradesEnrollmentRating
PIGGOTT ELEMENTARY SCHOOLPiggottElementaryPK-06484·
RECTOR ELEMENTARY SCHOOLRectorElementaryPK-06389·
PARK ELEMENTARY SCHOOLCorningElementaryPK-04361·
PIGGOTT HIGH SCHOOLPiggottHigh07-12330·
RECTOR HIGH SCHOOLRectorHigh07-12236·
CORNING MIDDLE SCHOOLCorningMiddle05-08227·
CORNING HIGH SCHOOLCorningHigh09-12217·

Cities in Clay County

Corning3 schoolsPiggott2 schoolsRector2 schools

About Clay County

In Arkansas, Clay County is a sparse county of about 14,280 residents. 7 public schools across the county instructs about 2,244 students between them.

Looking at the broader picture, census numbers show typical household earnings sit around $51,481, roughly 15% of adults have completed at least a four-year degree, and the poverty rate is around 13%.

Looking at the level breakdown, Clay County is built around 3 elementary schools (1,234 students), 1 middle school (227), and 3 high schools (783).

PIGGOTT SCHOOL DISTRICT is the biggest district by enrollment, covering about 814 students across Clay County.

Looking at the last 7 years. Across the same 7-year window, public-school enrollment declined 8%: 2,449 students in SY 2017-18 versus 2,244 in SY 2024-25.

Within the allk12 community for this area, the community for Clay County discusses open enrollment windows, redistricting talk, and busing logistics. Posts come from current and former families, staff, and alumni.

Frequently asked questions

How many K-12 schools serve Clay County?
There are 7 public K-12 schools in Clay County, Arkansas, with a combined enrollment of about 2,244.
How many high schools are in Clay County?
Clay County, Arkansas has 3 public high schools, serving approximately 783 students.
How many middle schools are in Clay County?
Clay County, Arkansas has 1 public middle school, serving approximately 227 students.
How many elementary schools are in Clay County?
Clay County, Arkansas has 3 public elementary schools, serving approximately 1,234 students.
What is the largest school district in Clay County?
PIGGOTT SCHOOL DISTRICT is the largest school district in Clay County, serving approximately 814 students. The county contains 3 school districts overall.
What is the population of Clay County?
Clay County, Arkansas has a population of approximately 14,280, with a median age of 43. About 21.5% of residents are under 18.
What is the median household income in Clay County?
Median household income in Clay County is $51,481, below the Arkansas average of $52,446. About 13.3% of residents live below the federal poverty line.
How educated are residents of Clay County?
Approximately 15.3% of adults 25 and older in Clay County hold a bachelor's degree or higher, according to the Census ACS 5-year estimate.
What share of students in Clay County qualify for free or reduced lunch?
Roughly 61.5% of students in Clay County public schools qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, a common proxy for low-income enrollment. This is lower than the Arkansas county average of 76.1%.
What is the student-teacher ratio in Clay County schools?
Across Clay County public schools, the enrollment-weighted student-teacher ratio is approximately 12.8 to 1.
DATA · Census ACS 5-year · NCES Common Core of Data